EP0613224B1 - Electrical safety device - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to an electrical protection device according to the preamble of claim 1.

In particular, the invention relates to electrical protection devices, such as. B. Surge protection devices, for installation in cable ducts.

Particularly in the office and industrial sector, sensitive electrical devices are increasingly being used, such as computers, answering machines, etc. The sensitivity of such devices relates in particular to the effects of overvoltage. The need for, for example, surge protective devices is therefore increasing more and more.

It is known such electrical protection devices, such as. B. surge protective devices, simply flanged to the back of built-in sockets. Then the surge protection is only effective for the respective socket. Such an arrangement is known from DE 37 09 239 A1. This electrical protection device has a protective functional unit which has an upper side and external input and output connections for electrical power. Protection functional units can be used for different types of electrical devices with different electrical power requirements. A plurality of electrical devices with the same electrical power requirements can only be protected by such a protective functional unit if a multiple socket unit is connected to the socket to which the electrical protective device is mounted directly.

From the company brochure "Surge Protection", UE'91 from DEHN, valid from February 1, 1991, pages 28 and 72, a number of different types of sockets with integrated surge protection circuits are known. Other such sockets are in the company brochure "Surge protection TRABTECH TRansient-ABsorption-TECHnologie" from Phoenix Elektrizitätsgesellschaft, July 1988, pages 13 and 42.

In office and industrial rooms, the laying of electrical installations in cable ducts is becoming more and more common. The laying is simple and it allows for subsequent additions and changes without great structural effort. If in this context there is talk of industrial and office use and therefore of the use of cable ducts, this means no restriction for the subject matter of the invention. In the same way, the invention can also be used in the flush-mounted or surface-mounted area, although the frequency of use there will be less.

Design plays a special role, particularly in the field of electrical installation. Each manufacturer largely offers its own complete program and this complete program has its "own face". Great efforts are being made to maintain this own face for all types of installation equipment and to prevent a competitor from being able to supply its functional parts "matching" frame or central plates, ie matching the visible parts of an installed installation program from another manufacturer. This customary approach, which is solely characterized by commercial aspects, hinders the introduction of technical innovations if they can only be sold on the market with the usual, legally protected design face of the respective manufacturer. It is important here that the electrical installation industry in particular is structured as a medium-sized company, where many medium-sized manufacturers have to share the market.

From US 3,909,502 a duct system for laying cables is known in which specially designed functional units have to be used.

For installation companies it is therefore disadvantageously necessary that they stock a large number of different systems in order to be able to carry out the required installations according to the requirements of their customers. Once a specific system has been withdrawn from the market, spare parts and extensions can no longer be procured and an extensive exchange of actually fully functional parts is required to be able to carry out the actual repair or expansion.

The invention has for its object to provide an electrical protection device of the type mentioned in such a way that on the one hand it fully meets the technical needs and on the other hand it can be used universally.

This object is achieved by an electrical protection device according to claim 1.

Starting from a generic electrical protection device according to the invention it is provided that a mounting plate is arranged on the top of the protective functional unit, and that fastening devices are provided by means of which at least one central plate of a telephone socket cover can be attached to the mounting plate.

The technical applicability of the electrical protection device according to the invention is not impeded by the "design lock" from other manufacturers explained. In an installation company, a large number of systems from different manufacturers no longer have to be kept in stock, and even set systems can easily be retrofitted with an electrical protection device.

The solution is that the functional part or parts of the electrical protection device, such as. B. an overvoltage protection device, are provided with a mounting plate, the fastening devices or elements of which are suitable for fastening at least one central plate of a telephone socket cover. In other words, the invention consists in the fact that this new functional part "electrical protection device" is designed so that it can be built in by means of a type that is inherently different from the original, namely covers intended for a telephone junction box, as well as, if necessary.

Usual programs of electrical installation devices usually also contain design solutions for covering telephone connections. Today there is practically no living or working space without a telephone connection. However, these telephone connection covers are technically designed in such a way that they have the same screw connection points for all cover manufacturers as specified by the manufacturers of the standard telephone sockets, both with regard to the positioning of the screw holes and their dimensions. An electrical protection device can therefore be installed in a very simple manner, system requirements not being a hindrance and additionally can be freely selected from all existing systems to cover an additional retrofitted electrical protection device to match the rest of the design.

The invention also has the advantage that no new covers have to be developed and produced, and that the central covers of telephone sockets that can be used according to the invention are extremely cheap due to their large production quantities. This further saves costs.

Another advantage of the invention is that the central plates of telephone socket covers already according to the individual national regulations with regard to the security requirements placed on them, such as. B. dielectric strength, self-burning behavior, splintering behavior, etc. are checked. As a result, the present invention eliminates the need for time-consuming tests such as are required for newly developed parts.

Although it cannot be ruled out in principle that an electrical protection device according to the invention is additionally also provided with its own connection socket in order to be able to connect a device to the electrical protection device at the same time, it is preferred according to claim 2 that the protective functional unit is free of Connection sockets for electrical devices is. As a result, the space required for the electrical protection device remains minimized and when placing the electrical protection device no consideration needs to be given to the fact that a device should also be directly connectable there.

According to claim 3, it is preferred that the protective functional unit contains overvoltage protection devices and / or line filter devices, which are designed in particular as modules. This advantageously enables optimal adaptation to requirements or customer requirements. Furthermore, the modules can preferably be connected to one another directly and / or by means of connecting cables. This has the advantage that the required or desired protection can be installed simply by selecting or replacing and adding appropriate modules. Preferred embodiments according to claim 4 are such that the overvoltage protection devices contain electronics which in particular have a protective circuit, preferably with two varistors and a surge arrester, and a monitoring circuit, in particular with at least one optical display device, preferably has a defect display and / or the line filter devices contain a line filter, and in particular that at least one interchangeable overload protection is provided. In this way, particularly simple and effective electrical protection devices can be obtained.

A corresponding combination of the features described above results in further advantages.

Surge protection devices or devices are on the market that can be installed in duct systems as individual devices or as a combined component with a flush-mounted socket. These devices only offer protection against overvoltages, not against interference voltages. Furthermore, only the directly connected or plugged-in consumer is protected.

Combined devices with surge protection and line filters are also only available as portable or mobile devices. Cables lying around disturb here, which not only pose a risk of an accident, but also impede clarity and order, which leads to unnecessary expenditure of time, particularly in the case of repairs or changes and new connections.

The purpose of such a new electrical protection device with overvoltage protection devices with built-in line filter devices is to protect complete rooms or sectors from overvoltages and interference voltages, especially in electrical installation duct systems such as are used in office buildings or energy columns. In other words, if the surge protection device with built-in line filter is installed at the beginning of a channel or an energy column, for example, the outlets connected below are also protected against overvoltages and interference voltages.

The device protects the connected consumers, such as sensitive electronic devices, from mains overvoltages, e.g. B. caused by switching operations or thunderstorms, and high-frequency interference voltages z. B. by thyristor switches, for. B. dimmer, or switching power supplies are caused. The electronics consist, for example, of a protective circuit with two varistors and a surge arrester, and a monitoring circuit with an optical display, which, for. B. can be a defect indicator, and a line filter.

This eliminates the risk of accidents due to cables lying around, the circuits are easy to follow, so that no additional time is required to untangle the circuits when working on them, and at the same time all sockets and devices connected to the electrical protection device are effectively protected against overvoltages and interference voltages .

There are two common telephone connections on the market. This is the so-called TAE cover, into which the telephone connection can be plugged. A TAE cover contains an opening for inserting the plug. This opening is rectangular. It can be enlarged to up to three times the passage size by means of preformed stripping parts, so that a maximum of three telephone plugs could be carried out next to one another. Such a TAE cover is now used according to the invention for covering the surge protection device, the passage opening being used as a viewing window for a display unit which is preferably connected to the functional part. It is therefore provided according to claim 5 that the central plate is a TAE cover in which an opening is provided, that the protective functional unit contains a display unit arranged on its top corresponding to the opening in the central plate, and that the display unit is preferably an optical display device for contains the functional and / or operating state of the protective functional unit or parts thereof. Here, the structural design of the TAE central plates is further used to keep the display unit visible in particular. In principle, an acoustic display unit is also possible, the effect of which, however, is also optimal if it is not covered according to the development according to the invention.

It is further preferred in this context according to claim 6 that the display unit has a display panel, the dimensions and outline of which at least substantially correspond to the dimensions and the outline of the opening provided in the TAE cover, and that the display panel preferably fills the opening flush. This results in a particularly clean-looking electrical protection device, the space already available through the opening being optimally used.

Furthermore, it is known to provide fixed telephone connections of a conventional type with a blind cover, which is also in all outlets in the same dimensioning in the same place can be fixed by a screw connection. In connection with claim 7, this means that the central plate is a blind cover and that the protective functional unit preferably has such a size. that it can be covered with two central plates, one central plate preferably being a TAE cover and the other being a blind cover.

An electrical protection device, such as an overvoltage protection device of the type according to the invention, can have a certain construction volume which goes beyond the installation size of a single socket. The advantage of the above embodiment of the invention is that the part of the functional part which projects laterally beyond the TAE cover provided with the viewing window or a separate functional part which is separated therefrom, but which does not require external accessibility, with such a telephone blind cover can be covered, which in turn can be borrowed from any design program. This means that even larger arrangements of electrical protection devices can be covered cleanly and as desired, without additional special parts, and without expensive special parts to be manufactured, checked and stored for this purpose.

The simplest is the assembly of the central plate by the embodiment according to claim 8. Thereafter, the protective functional unit and / or the mounting plate has a threaded hole, the central plate contains a holding hole aligned with the threaded hole for mounting, and a screw is through the holding hole can be screwed into the threaded hole. In a conventional manner in such components, the screw head is larger than the free diameter of the holding hole in the central plate, so that the central plate can be pressed against the mounting plate by the screw head when the screw is screwed into the threaded bore. Furthermore, the threaded bore has a corresponding screw and possibly additional free length, so that the screw can be screwed in so far that the central plate is pressed firmly against the mounting plate. In order to avoid endangering the surroundings and the arrangement from a protruding screw head, the holding bore preferably has a countersunk recess for receiving the screw head.

Any configurations of the central plates can be used according to available systems, because the fit is due to the telephone connection standardization is guaranteed. In particular, it is therefore provided according to claim 9 that an intermediate plate surrounding the central plate and / or a frame plate is / is provided, and that preferably the frame plate is optionally held over the intermediate plate by the central plate when the latter is fastened with respect to the mounting plate, and / or that a common multiple frame is preferably provided with several central plates. The designs claimed in this way correspond to design solutions as are currently on the market, so that the correspondingly designed electrical protection devices can be integrated well into the existing systems.

According to claim 10 it is provided that for installation in electrical installation or parapet duct systems and / or energy columns and / or in flush-mounted installation boxes, in particular, if necessary, built-in device double boxes for a larger protective functional unit, suitable fastening devices or for attachment above surfaces, a housing with suitable fastening devices are / is provided. As a result, the required and / or desired installation is optimally possible without problems.

The object of the invention is further achieved according to claim 11 in that a central plate of a telephone socket cover is used in an electrical protection device according to the invention. The above-mentioned advantages result in detail if the corresponding configurations of the electrical protection devices are used as a basis.

• Der Einbau der Elektrikschutzvorrichtungen erfolgt in handelsübliche Einbau-Gerätedoppeldosen für Elektroinstallationskanäle.
• Es können ganze Räume oder Energiesäulen (Inseln) mit einer Elektrikschutzvorrichtung geschützt werden.
• Der Betriebszustand der Elektrikschutzvorrichtung kann durch eine optische Anzeige deutlich gemacht werden, wie z. B. grün: Überspannungsschutz in Betrieb; und rot: Überspannungsschutz außer Funktion.
• Eine auswechselbare Sicherung schützt die Elektrikschutzvorrichtung vor einer Überlastung.
• Die Elektrikschutzvorrichtung ist universell kombinierbar mit Schalterprogrammen verschiedener Hersteller.

Appropriate combinations of features within the scope of the claims generally result in the following advantages:

• The electrical protection devices are installed in standard built-in device boxes for electrical installation ducts.
• Entire rooms or energy columns (islands) can be protected with an electrical protection device.
• The operating state of the electrical protection device can be made clear by a visual display, such as. B. green: surge protection in operation; and red: overvoltage protection has no function.
• A replaceable fuse protects the electrical protection device against overload.
• The electrical protection device can be combined universally with switch programs from different manufacturers.

In addition, it is advantageous to combine such electrical protection devices as surge protective devices with a built-in line filter. The line filter is used to filter out high-frequency interference pulses (radio interference suppression) to protect the connected power consumers.

Further advantageous embodiments of the invention result from individual combinations of the claims.

Fig. 1

eine Seitenansicht einer ersten Ausführungsform einer Elektrikschutzvorrichtung vor der Montage einer Abdeckung;

Fig. 2

eine Draufsicht auf eine Montageplatte einer zweiten Ausführungsform der Elektrikschutzvorrichtung;

Fig. 3

eine Draufsicht auf die erste Ausführungsform der Elektrikschutzvorrichtung, wobei nur die Montageplatte und teilweise die Schutz-Funktionseinheit gezeigt sind; und

The object of the invention is explained below with reference to the drawing, for example; in this show:

Fig. 1

a side view of a first embodiment of an electrical protection device before mounting a cover;

Fig. 2

a plan view of a mounting plate of a second embodiment of the electrical protection device;

Fig. 3

a plan view of the first embodiment of the electrical protection device, only the mounting plate and partially the protective functional unit are shown; and

In all figures of the drawing, the same parts are provided with the same reference numerals, so that their arrangements and interrelationships are readily apparent from the illustrations, even if the corresponding components to avoid repetition are not indicated separately in the description of each individual figure.

FIG. 1 shows the side view of an electrical protection device 17 with overvoltage protection devices 18 with built-in line filter devices 19, the technical structure of these components per se not being primarily relevant for the rest of the design of the electrical protection device 17. Therefore, for the sake of simplicity, we will first speak of the electrical protection device 18 or the protection functional unit 1. The protective functional unit 1 is covered on its upper side 4 by a mounting plate 2. The display unit 3 or its display field 3 ′ projects beyond the mounting plate 2, which is shown in the top view in FIG. The display field 3 'has a rectangular outline, the dimensions of which correspond to the dimensions of the cutout or the opening 5 in the central plate 6 of a TAE box. The display field 3 'of the functional unit 1 fills the opening 5 in the central plate 6 flush.

The central plate 6 is screwed to the mounting plate 2 with the screw 14. However, it could also be screwed directly to the protective functional unit 1. In Figure 1, the screw axis 8 of the screw 14 is shown, which can be screwed into the threaded bore 15 of the mounting plate 2, as can be seen from the threaded bore 15 shown in Figure 3.

It is therefore essential that the mounting plate 2 or the protective functional unit 1 has a threaded bore 15 exactly where such is required for the screw fixing of the central plate 5 of a TAE cover 22.

In the case of the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 3, the functional part or the protective functional unit 1 is so voluminous that it or it protrudes laterally beyond an individual cover. The area 11 projecting beyond the area of an individual cover is in turn covered by a conventional telephone socket cover, ie by such a telephone socket cover that forms a blind cover 12. This is practically a lamination. However, it is again important that the mounting plate 2 of the protective functional unit 1 contains a threaded bore 15 in the fastening area of this customary blind cover 12 for receiving the screw 14 for fixing the blind cover. If a blind cover 12 was mentioned here, it can also be any type of non-performing cover, as is practically offered by the installation device manufacturers for reserve recesses etc. in the same way.

The screws 7 and 14 can be clearly seen in FIG. 2, the exemplary embodiment of which corresponds to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 3.

If a conventional telephone connection socket was mentioned above, this means a telephone socket for a fixed connection.

In the embodiment of Figures 1 and 3, the voluminous design of the functional unit 1 is a result of the combination of an overvoltage protection device with a line filter of the corresponding devices 18 and 19. Of course, both parts can also be made the subject of separate protective functional units 1, which are then correspondingly smaller in volume and can be accommodated in a room that can be covered from the outside by a single frame.

In FIG. 3, the input connections 20 and the output connections 21, which are also shown in FIG. 1, can be seen particularly well in the top view. In the example shown, these are simple screw terminals of a known type which can be actuated by means of a screwdriver through the openings shown in FIG. 3. Alternatively, spring clamps u. a. be used. The distribution of the input connections 20 and the output connections 21 can also take place in any other suitable form. It is essential that they are all below the mounting plate 2, d. H. underneath the top 4 of the protective functional unit 1. As a result, the connections are accessible within a cable duct or below a plastering of masonry where the electrical protection device 17 is used. The latter can thus be installed directly in the course of cables or electrical lines in general.

The protective functional unit 1 is free of connection sockets, such as. B. sockets for electrical devices. The technical structure of an electrical protection device 17 with overvoltage protection devices 18 with built-in or attached line filter devices 19 is described below. Such a surge protector with built-in line filter can, for. B. be installed in electrical installation or parapet duct systems and energy columns. The purpose of such a new electrical protection device with overvoltage protection devices with built-in line filter devices is, especially in electrical installation duct systems such as those in office buildings or energy columns Used to protect entire rooms or sectors from overvoltages and interference voltages. In other words, if the surge protection device with built-in line filter is installed at the beginning of a duct or an energy column, the outlets connected below are also protected against overvoltages and interference voltages. The device or device protects the connected consumers, such as sensitive electronic devices, from mains overvoltages, which, for. B. caused by switching operations or thunderstorms, and high-frequency interference voltages z. B. by thyristor switches, for. B. dimmer, or switching power supplies are caused. The electronics consist, for example, of a protective circuit with two varistors and a surge arrester, and a monitoring circuit with an optical display, which, for. B. can be a defect indicator, and a line filter.

2, the central plate 6 is surrounded by an intermediate plate 9, which in turn is inserted into a recess in a frame plate 10 from the outside. An intermediate plate 9 need not necessarily be present. There are many brands in which the central plate 6 and the intermediate plate 9 form a unit. It is only important that the screw 7 practically ensures the fixed fixation of the frame plate 10 on a wall or in particular on the cable duct via the central plate 6 and optionally via an intermediate plate 9. As can be seen further, the locations for the screws 7 and 14 for the TAE cover 22 and the blind cover 12 do not have to be the same. Possibly. several threaded bores 13 and 15 can be provided universally.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 3, control lamps 24 and 25 are provided, which belong to a display unit 3 and are arranged in its display field 3 ', in such a way that the display unit 3 projects through the opening 5 of the TAE cover 22. The control lamp 24 is a green light-emitting diode which is in operation when the electrical protection device 17 is working or is functioning. The control lamp 25 is a red light emitting diode which lights up when the electrical protection device 17 is out of operation. Instead of the light-emitting diodes, other optical display devices or even acoustic display devices can also be provided, which furthermore do not necessarily need an opening in order to be perceived, e.g. B. if the material of the central plate 6 is at least partially optically transparent or the arrangement is not soundproof. It can also display indicators for other states and functions be provided. Especially when using a TAE cover 22, it is possible to provide information about type, use and / or the like in the area of the opening 5 on the protective functional unit 1 or its display unit 3 or the mounting plate 2, since this information also after the installation has been completed the electrical protection device 17 remain clearly visible.

The constellation of the circuit is to be selected in all possible embodiments according to the requirements of the electrical power, which also specifies the specific design of the electrical protection device 17 and in particular the overvoltage protection devices 18 and line filter devices 19 that are to be used. Accordingly, protective function units 1 with a different design and structure can also be used. The most diverse areas of application are possible, such as. B. telephone lines, various computer data lines, power lines for different AC and DC currents and also for high currents, control lines and. v. m. The electrical protection device 17 can furthermore have suitable fastening devices and / or a housing in order to simplify and improve further assembly and operation, as is shown in FIG. 3 by way of example as recesses and holes as parts of fastening devices in the mounting plate 2.

The above embodiments of the invention have been given by way of example only. The entire scope of the invention is determined by the claims.

Reference list

1

Protection functional unit

2nd

Mounting plate

3rd

Display unit

3 '

Display field

4th

Top

5

opening

6

Central plate

7

screw

8th

Screw axis

9

Intermediate plate

10th

Frame plate

11

protruding area 11

12th

Blind cover

13

Tapped hole

14

screw

15

Tapped hole

17th

Electrical protection device

18th

Surge protection devices

19th

Line filter devices

20th

Input connections

21

Output connections

22

TAE coverage

23

Recording room

24th

Indicator lamp

25th

Indicator lamp

Claims (11)

1. An electrical safety device, with a protective operating unit (1), which has a top (4) and, disposed outside the latter, input and output connectors (20, 21) for an electrical output performance,
   in which arrangement, protective operating units (1) can be used for various electrical appliances with different electrical output performance requirements,
      characterized in that

   a mounting plate (2) is arranged at the top (4) of the protective operating unit (1), and

   that fastening devices (7, 13, 14, 15) are provided, by means of which at least one central plate (6) of a telephone socket cover (12, 22) can be attached to the mounting plate (2).
2. An electrical safety device according to claim 1,
      characterized in that
   the protective operating unit (1) does not have any connector sockets for electrical appliances.
3. An electrical safety device according to claim 1 or 2,
      characterized in that

   the protective operating unit (1) contains overvoltage safety devices (18) and/or mains filter devices (19) which are designed in particular as modules, and

   that in particular the modules can be connected to one another directly and/or by means of connecting leads.
4. An electrical safety device according to claim 3,
      characterized in that

   the overvoltage safety devices (18) comprise an electronic unit which has in particular a safety circuit, preferably with two varistors and an overvoltage arrester, and a monitoring circuit, in particular with at least one optical display device, preferably a fault indicator, and/or the mains filter devices (19) contain a mains filter, and

   that in particular at least one exchangeable overload fuse is provided.
5. An electrical safety device according to one of the preceding claims.
      characterized in that

   the central plate (6) is a TAE-cover (22), wherein an opening (5) is provided,

   that the protective operating unit (1) comprises an indicator unit (3) arranged at its top, (4) corresponding to the opening (5) in the central plate (6), and

   that the indicator unit (3) preferably contains optical devices for displaying the functional and/or operational state of the protective operating unit (1) or parts thereof.
6. An electrical safety device according to claim 5,
      characterized in that
   the indicator unit (3) has a display field (3') whose dimensions and contour correspond at least substantially to the dimensions and the contour of the opening (5) provided in the TAE-cover (22), and that the display field (3') preferably fills the opening (5) with a flush fit.
7. An electrical safety device according to one of the preceding claims.
      characterized in that
   the central plate (6) is a blind cover (12) or a telephone cover for a telephone connection fixed in position, and that preferably the protective operating unit (1) is of such a size that it can be covered by two central plates (6), in which arrangement in particular, one central plate (6) is a TAE-cover (22), and the other a blind cover or a telephone cover for a telephone connection fixed in position.
8. An electrical safety device according to one of the preceding claims,
      characterized in that

   the protective operating unit (1) and/or the mounting plate (2) have or has at least one tapped bore (13, 15),

   that the central plate (6) has for assembly a holding bore aligned with the tapped bore (13, 15), and

   that a screw (7, 14) can be screwed in through the holding bore into the tapped bore (13, 15), in which arrangement the screw head is larger than the free diameter of the holding bore in the central plate (6), so that the central plate (6) can be pressed by the screw head against the mounting plate (2) as the screw (7, 14) is being screwed in into the tapped bore (13,15), and in which arrangement the tapped bore (13, 15) has a corresponding screw length and an additional free length if required, so that the screw (7, 14) can be screwed in so far that the central plate (6) is pressed firmly against the mounting plate (2), and that the holding bore preferably has a countersunk recess for receiving the screw head.
9. An electrical safety device according to one of the preceding claims,
      characterized in that

   an intermediate plate (9) surrounding the central plate (6) and/ or a frame plate (10) is or are provided, and

   that preferably the frame plate (10) is held by the central plate (6), if required via the intermediate plate (9), when the central plate has been secured relative to the mounting plate (2), and/or

   that preferably a common multiple frame is provided in the case of several central plates (6).
10. An electrical safety device according to one of the preceding claims,
       characterized in that
    for the installation in electrical installation systems or parapet duct systems, and/or energy columns and/or in flush installation sockets, in particular installed double appliance sockets, if required for a larger protective operating unit (1), suitable fastening devices are provided, or a casing with suitable fastening devices is provided for attachment on top of surfaces.
11. Use of a central plate of a telephone socket cover (12, 22) in an electrical safety device (17) according to one of the preceding claims.

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